The cover, or in this case the uniform, may have changed, but the story remains the same. Bynum is one of the more talented big men in the league, but his inability to stay healthy saps most of his value. After being traded to Philadelphia prior to the 2012-13 season, Bynum was poised for his first shot as the No. 1 option for an NBA squad. As a result, he was expected to build on his stellar 2011-12 campaign in Los Angeles. Instead, Bynum never suited up for the Sixers, sitting out the entire season with lingering knee issues. The Cavaliers rolled the dice on Bynum during free agency this summer, and most reports out of Cleveland are optimistic that the team's medical staff will be able to work with Bynum to keep him healthy and fresh throughout the season. The talent is there for Bynum to be one of the more productive options at the center position, but his injury-prone ways make him one of the bigger risk-reward picks on draft day.
Bynum easily put together the best season of his career in 2011-12, posting career-high marks in scoring (18.7), rebounding (11.8) and minutes (35). The heavier workload didn’t affect Bynum’s efficiency, as he shot 55.8 percent from the floor and a solid (for a big man) 69.2 percent from the free-throw line. He also continued to be a beast on the defensive side of the ball, swatting away 1.9 shots per game. The primary reason for Bynum’s breakout was his ability to stay relatively healthy for the full season, as he appeared in 60 of 66 games. The 25-year-old center will be patrolling the paint for the Sixers this season after being traded to Philly as part of the four-team Dwight Howard deal. In Philadelphia, Bynum will be out of Kobe Bryant’s and Pau Gasol’s shadows as the clear-cut center piece of the team. As a result, Bynum will have the opportunity to repeat or surpass the levels he reached last year. The only real question mark with Bynum remains his health. He’s scheduled to undergo a non-invasive knee procedure this September, which will hopefully help keep him healthier throughout his career. The Sixers expect Bynum to be ready before the start of the regular season, but any time you’re dealing with a player who has spent as much time on the shelf as Bynum, you’ll want to monitor the situation closely before committing to him on draft day.
Bynum had another shortened season, appearing in just 54 games in 2010-11 due to a knee injury that sidelined him for the first two months. The oft-injured big man has now missed 124 out of 328 games over the past four seasons. When healthy, though, Bynum is a double-double monster. In his 54 appearances last year, Bynum averaged 11.3 points and 9.4 rebounds despite playing under 28 minutes per game. He shot just 66 percent from the free throw line, but offset that with an outstanding 57.4 clip from the floor. On the defensive side of the court, Bynum is one of the more intimidating presences in the league, swatting away 2.0 shots per game and altering many other attempts. The Lakers were understandably cautious with Bynum last year, but with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant all one year older, the team will likely decide to lean on its young pivot a bit more going forward. Per usual, Bynum will be a risky pick due to his injury-filled past, but at just 24, the lure of his upside will make him worth a gamble in the mid rounds.
It was more of the same with Bynum last season, productive while on the court (15.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 0.5 spg, 1.5 bpg) yet also remaining injury-prone, missing another 17 contests. Sadly, those 65 games played were easily the most since he's become a full-time starter, as his inability to stay healthy has become of great concern. Even when healthy, Bynum, while good, has been a bit underwhelming, failing to become the true star many predicted was inevitable. Of course, he shares the court with the most talented roster in the league, so it's not like he's going to dominate field goal attempts, and his specific situation is partially to be blamed. Bynum underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late July to repair a torn meniscus that requires rehab of 6-to-8 weeks, so while he should be 100 percent by the start of the regular season, it's hardly a guarantee. Make no mistake, there's real talent here with a lot of upside, but Bynum remains a high risk, high reward pick.
The 2008-09 campaign was a disappointment for Bynum as he missed significant time with knee problems for a second consecutive season – a torn MCL derailed his season on January 31. In the five games prior to suffering his injury, Bynum displayed his vast potential, averaging 26.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks. Recovery from the injury went well enough that Bynum was able to rejoin the team just before the playoffs, but he wasn’t fully healthy and averaged just 6.3 points and 3.7 boards during the postseason. On top of the questions about his health, Bynum will have to compete for playing time with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol in the Lakers’ frontcourt. While Bynum was the starter upon his return from injury last season, Odom played better and received the bulk of playing time alongside Gasol. The Lakers will likely opt to continue running Bynum with the starting unit, but the team’s glut of scoring options (Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Gasol, Odom) will push him down to fifth in line for touches. Despite the expected lack of scoring opportunities, Bynum will make a significant fantasy impact with his rebounding and defensive game. The 22-year old has averaged 8.9 boards and 1.9 blocks the past two seasons. Monitor his health before committing to him on draft day, but Bynum’s production on the defensive end and glass, added to his offensive potential, make him a worthwhile gamble.
Last season, Bynum showed definite signs of becoming the next in a long line of dominant Laker centers. He was well on his way to shattering his career-highs in every category before a knee injury ended his season after 35 games, and his numbers were even more impressive when you consider that he played less than 29 minutes per game. His per-36 minute averages for the year were: 16.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Bynum’s an athletic 7-0, 275 and still has plenty of room to grow into his body at only 20 years old. His game is currently more about athleticism than technique, so as he polishes his post offense and learns his defensive rotations he should be even more dominant moving forward. At press time, Bynum had declared the knee 100 percent healthy.
Bynum showed flashes at different times last season of the franchise-center potential that makes him one of the more sought-after young big men in the NBA. An athletic 7-0, 275 pounds and just 19 years old, Bynum still has plenty of room to grow into his body. Fantasy-wise, his only notable numbers last season were his 1.6 blocks/game. His scoring (7.8) and rebounding (5.9) averages were pedestrian, until you consider that he only played 21.9 minutes. If he’s mentally and physically prepared to play 30 minutes per this season, he has the upside to average a double-double with good blocks and shooting percentages. Don’t look to Bynum as guaranteed production. Rather, consider him as your fantasy lottery ticket, with the potential to post massive numbers if this is the year he reaches his enormous potential.
Bynum last year became the youngest player ever drafted, and won't even turn nineteen until October 27th. Bynum, in fact, is so young that he even grew an inch in the offseason, and now stands at 7-1. He should be viewed as nothing more than a project, and won't see enough playing time to warrant fantasy consideration.
You think the Lakers had "The Next Shaq" in mind when drafting Bynum with the 10th overall pick? Well, Bynum certainly has the build but he still has a long way to go before being polished enough for the NBA game. Drafted at the tender age of 17, Bynum is definitely a work in progress and won't have much of an impact for the next few years. If you're optimistic, think Eddy Curry or Jermaine O'Neal; if you're more realistic, think Michael Olowokandi or DeSagana Diop.
